The Theatre of Western Springs (TWS) is hosting a "Grease" Sing-a-Long at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at the theatre located at 4384 Hampton Ave., Western Springs. The event is open to the public, and participants are encouraged to dress as a T-Bird, a Pink Lady or in any other 1950s high school attire.

The evening will be hosted by Joe Savino of Chicago, who is the well known host of sing-a-longs at Chicago's Music Box Theatre. He will warm up the audience, teach how to "hand-jive," deploy the contents of their free Magic Moments Fun Packs and heckle in all the right places. Following the film, there will be a costume parade and prizes.

"'Grease' is always a popular sing-a-long," Savino said. "People love the music and the style of the '50s era. Plus the music from 'Grease' is so sing-able and fun."

Called the "original high school musical," "Grease" hit movie screens in 1978 and became an instant hit, particularly popular with teenagers. The plot concerns good girl Sandy and greaser Danny who fall in love over the summer. When they unexpectedly discover they're now in the same high school, they wonder if they'll be able to rekindle their romance.

Directed by Randal Kleiser, the movie featured John Travolta as Danny, Olivia Newton-John as Sandy and Stockard Channing as Rizzo. In 1979, the movie won two People's Choice Awards USA for Favorite Overall Motion Picture and Favorite Musical Motion Picture.

"Grease" fans still know and love all the songs including, "Hopelessly Devoted to You," which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Other perennial favorites are "Greased Lightning," "You're the One that I Want" and "Summer Lovin'."

"I remember slumber parties where we dressed in poodle skirts and sang our hearts out," said Jennifer Jermano Miller of Indian Head Park, chair of the fundraising committee at TWS. "'Grease' is the embodiment of the '50s, and so many people still love it."

"Everyone gets to be an armchair performer," Joe Savino said. "People are allowed, I should say encouraged, to shout out during the movie. It's a total blast."